Activities to Teach Students to Build Cube Trains to Add Up to 5 Addition Sentences
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Building cube trains is a fun and hands-on activity that can help students develop important math skills, such as addition and counting. In this article, we will discuss a few activities that can be used to teach students to build cube trains that add up to 5 addition sentences.
Activity 1: Roll and Build
For this activity, students will need dice and cube or building blocks. To start, divide the students into pairs, and give each pair a set of dice and blocks. One student will roll the dice and count the dots on each die. Then, the student will build a cube train using the number of blocks that corresponds to the total number of dots on the dice. For example, if the student rolls a 2 and a 3, they will build a cube train that has 5 blocks. Once the train is built, the other student should count the number of blocks and write the addition sentence that corresponds to the train. For example, if the train has 2 blocks and 3 blocks, the addition sentence would be 2+3=5.
Activity 2: Count and Build
For this activity, you will need a set of cards with the numbers 1 to 5 written on them and cube or building blocks. Shuffle the cards and place them in a pile face down. Each student will take a turn drawing a card and counting the number on the card. Then, they will build a cube train using the number of blocks that corresponds to the number on the card. Once the train is built, the student should say the addition sentence that corresponds to the train. For example, if the student draws a 4 card and builds a train with 4 blocks, they should say “4 plus 1 equals 5” or “3 plus 2 equals 5”.
Activity 3: Roll and Race
For this activity, you will need a large space, such as a gym or empty classroom, and two sets of dice and cube or building blocks. Divide the students into pairs, and place the pairs at opposite ends of the room. To start, one student from each pair will roll the dice and build a cube train using the number of blocks that corresponds to the total number of dots on the dice. Once the train is built, the students should run to the center of the room, shout out the addition sentence that corresponds to their train, and race back to tag their partner. The partner will then repeat the process. The first pair to complete five cube trains wins the race.
These activities are sure to be engaging and enjoyable for students of all ages. By allowing students to actively build their understanding of addition and counting, they can develop a strong foundation in math that will serve them well throughout their academic careers.